Safety door



G. L. WEST Dec. 30, 1958 SAFETY DOOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 28, 1955 INVENTOR. 65086! 4. W637 FIG. 7 3

I Arr-2M0 United States Patent SAFETY DOOR George L. West, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company, Allegheny County, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application Septemher28, 1955, Serial No. 537,091 7 Claims. (Cl. 20-16) This invention relates to a door construction and more especially relates to a door construction of the swinging type pivoted or hinged at the top and bottom adjacent one of the edges of the door.

In the swinging type of door heretofore constructed using a floor-hinge type of construction in which the door is pivotally mounted top and bottom near one edge, the pivot axis cannot be mounted sufficiently close to the door jamb. As a result, when the door is swung wide open or even partially open, the hinge edge, i. e., the vertical edge of the door adjacent the pivot axis, moves so as to greatly increase the space between the door edge and the adjacent door jamb or filter strip mounted on the jamb. When the door is in the partially or completely open position, fingers can be placed between the hinge edge of the door and the jamb or other adjacent structure. Of course, if the fingers remain in that position when the door is pushed closed, the fingers will be injured because the swinging door in a closed position has its hinge edge too close to the door jamb for ones fingers to be therebetween. Such damage to the fingers, of course, is likely to occur in doors of the swinging type in numerous commercial establishments where the passenger trafiic through the doors is rather heavy and children are permitted to roam about the area.

In a multiple swinging door assembly in which two or more doors are placed in side by side relationship with the hinge edge of one door being adjacent to the other or leading edge of the adjacent door a similar hazard exists. In other words, when both doors are closed, there is insufficient space provided between the hinge edge, i. e., the edge proximal the pivot axis and the leading edge, i. e., the edge distal the pivot axis of the second door for the fingers to be inserted therebetween. However, when the second door is swung open in the multiple door construction heretofore, there is created suflicient clearance between the two doors for the fingers to be inserted therebetween. Thus, fingers can be caught and injured by the return swing of the second door.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a sible the insertion of fingers between the hinge edge of the door and the adjacent vertical structural member.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a multiple swinging door assembly in which it is impossible to insert the fingers between the hinge edge of an open door and. the leading edge of a second swinging door while the latter is in a closed position.

Other objects of the present invention will be apparent to one skilled in the art from the description which follows and which describes three preferred embodiments of this invention when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which similar parts are designated by the same numeral or letter and in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a single door of the swinging type in accordance with the present invention and mounted in a door frame;

floor-hinge type of door construction that makes impos-' Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a multiple door construction of the present invention and including a door frame;

Fig. 3 is a cross section of the multiple door assembly taken along the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevation of the multiple door assembly of Fig. 2, partially broken away to show top and bottom hinge-mounting means in section and showing a threshold in the doorway;

Fig. 5 is a cross section taken along line 55 of Fig. 1, showing in dotted lines the door in a partially open position;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary front elevation of a third embodiment of a door construction utilizing the door of the present invention, in which one or more swinging doors are utilized and in which the door or the end doors are separated from the frames of the door frame by glass partitions; and

Fig. 7 is an exploded view of the parts making up a preferred checking lower hinge assembly for mounting the swinging door on the post of a door-checking mechanism.

In Fig. 1, there is shown a door construction in which a single swinging door generally indicated at 11 is mounted in a door frame generally indicated at 12. The door 11 has a glass panel G to which is mounted top and bottom channel members 14 and 15, respectively. The door frame 12 has door jambs 17 and 18 and top door frame member 19. Mounted on door jamb 1'7 is a filler channel strip 20 that extends most of the length of panel G between channel members 14 and 15. A channel member Zll shown in the preferred embodiment as identical in structure to filler channel strip 28 extends the entire length of jamb 18 from the bottom of jamb 18 to the bottom surface of top frame member 19. As seen in Fig. 5, filler channel strip 20 and channel member 21 are fastened to jambs I7 and 18 by means of screws 24 and 25.

In Fig. 2, there is illustrated a second embodiment of the present invention in which the door construction is of a multiple-swinging-door type. In the door construction illustrated for swinging doors generally indicated from right to left at 31, 32, 33 and 34, it is to be noted that swinging door 31 is of the same construction as door 11 whereas doors 32, 33 and 34 while being identical to one another differ from doors 11 and 31. In doors 32, 33 and 34, the glass panels G each has a leading edge36 farther away from the pivotal axis of the door than the leading edges 38 and 39 of top and bottom channel members 40 and 41 of each of swinging doors 32, 33 and 34. In other words, top and bottom channel members 40 and 41 of doors 32, 33 and 34 do not ex tend to the leading edge 36 of the door panels G. It is further seen that top and bottom channel members 14 and 15 of swinging doors 11 and 31 are longer than glass panels G due to top and bottom extensions 42 and 43 as seen in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5 (at the hinge edge 44- of panels G). In the case of swinging doors 32, 33 and 34 top and bottom channel members 40 and41 are substantially the same length as the width of panels G and are offset with respect to panels G so that, at the hinge edges 45 of panels G of doors 32, 33 and 34, members 4% and 41 extend beyond panels G by extensions 4-6 and 47 and at the leading edges 36 of panels G of doors 32, 33 and 34 top and bottom channel members 46 and 41 are closer to the pivotal axis than the leading edges 36 of panels G.

Referring now to Fig. 4 which shows the structural details of an adjustable hinge mechanism for mounting swinging doors 11, 31, 32, 33 and 34 and swinging door 43 (shown in Fig. 6), the preferred hinge mechanism has an upper pivot assembly generally indicated at 51 and a lower pivot assembly generally indicated at 53. Assembly 53, as shown in Fig. 4 for the floor-hinge mounting of swinging door 34 of Fig. 2, is mounted by the use of screws 54 in elongated slots 55 in base plate generally indicated at 56. The screws engage threaded holes 57 in adaptor plate 58 which is screwed or fastened by means of the screws 59 through holes 59 to web 60 of bottom channel member 41. In the construction shown, base plate 56 has a main plate section 60 containing slots 55 abutting adaptor plate 58 and an offset plate section 61 having downwardly turned flanges 62 and 63 having apertures 62 and 63 and abutting downwardly extending flanges 64 and 65 of bottom channel member 41 which is provided with holes (not shown) having a considerably larger diameter than screws 67 which are slightly smaller in diameter than holes 62' and 63'. The holes in flanges 64 and 65 have a diameter preferably atleast equal to the length of slots55.

Channel member 41 is provided with upwardly turned flanges 68 and 69 engaging bottom marginal surfaces of glass panel G. The glass panel G is notched at the lefthand corner at G to accommodate the end enclosure member 72 rigidly attached to the end of the lower channel member 41 at the hinge end thereof. Glass panel G is bonded to bottom channel member 41 and member '72 by means of a cement 74. Channel member41 is enclosed at the hinge end by plate 75 joined to web 60 and flanges 64 and 65.

In the door construction of Fig. 4, a threshold 76 is mounted on floor F. Through aperture 77 of threshold 76 extends post 78 of door-checking mechanism 79 embedded in floor F. Cover plate 80 of checking mechanism 79 is flush with floor F. Check arm generally indicated at 82 of bottom pivot assembly 53 has recess 84 for receiving post 78. Check arm 82 has an upstanding boss 86 at one end and projecting from the top base thereof and is provided with an annular recess 87 formed in the top surface about the circular boss 86 such that it receives an annular skirt 88 of adaptor collar generally indicated at 90 while boss 86 extends within a recess 91 in collar 90. The adaptor collar 90 isformed with an upstanding circular boss 92 which is received in aperture 93 of base plate 56.

The right-hand end of check arm 82 as viewed in Figs. 4 and 7 is formed with a vertically extending portion 94 having a pair of top threaded apertures 95 formed therein and extending transversely therethrough. Portion 94 also has a pair of lower threaded apertures 96 formed therein and extending transversely therethrough. Apertures 95 and 96 are adapted to receive in a selective manner adjusting screws 67 extending through holes in downwardly extending flanges 64 and 65 of bottom channel member 41 and through apertures 62 and 63 of flanges 62 and 63. In'the construction shown in Fig. a threshold 76 is used in the door construction, top threaded apertures 95 are in alignment with apertures 62 and 63' of flanges 62 and 63 because of adaptor collar 90 on check arm 82.

Screws 54 can be loosened before mounting the door 34 in order to move base plate 56 to provide lateral or edgewise adjustment of the door relative to jamb 17 and filler channel strip 20. After the appropriate adjustment has been made, screws 54 are tightened. Similar mounting of the other doors can be accomplished.

The upper pivot assembly 51 is mounted on web 101 between upwardly turned flanges 102 and 103 of top channel member 40. Downwardly turned flanges 104 and 105 of top channel member 40 enclose the top marginal portion of glass panel G which is notched at the upper left-hand corner to be enclosed by end member 106 fastened to top channel member 40. Cement 107 is used to bond panel G to end member 106 and flanges 104, 105 and web 101 of top channel member 40. Upper pivot assembly 51 includes a dovetailed slide block 108 fastened 4 in which V with recess 111 of bearing iii) to web 101 by screws 109. Slidably mounted on block 108 is a bearing block 110 having a vertically extending recess 111 in its top portion provided with a sleeve bearing 112. Between flanges 102 and 103 at the left-hand end is mounted by rivets 113 an enclosure member 114 having an aperture 115 and a threaded aperture 116, each being horizontally disposed. Aperture 115 is in align-- ment with a'threaded aperture 117 in bearing block 110. Aperture 117 receives screw 118 engaging a shoulder 119 in aperture 115 of enclosure member 114. Screw 120 is in threaded aperture 116 and abuts bearing block 110. Thus screws 118 and 120 provide lateral or edgewise adjustment of bearing block 110 relative to dovetailed slide block 108 for providing lateral adjustment of door 34 at its upper end.

A plate 124 is fastened by screws (not shown) to top frame member 19 to cover aperture 125 in the bottom plate 126 of frame member, 19. Between bottom plate 126 and top plate 128 of frame. member 19 is a tube 129 which is welded in vertical position onto plate 126 and which is provided with a longitudinal slot 130 in wall 131. Slidably mounted in tube 129 is a pin 132 having a transverse hole 133 near its top end. Engaging pin 132 in hole 133 through slot 130 is a pivotally mounted latch plate 135 tapered at the free end for engaging pin 132 by insertion in hole 133. Plate 135 is pivotally mounted on plate 127 by means of a pair of upstanding flanges 137 mounted on plate 125. Flanges 137 support pin 138 on which is mounted plate 135. A slot 140 is provided in latch plate 135. Slot 140 is in alignment with an elongated slot 141 in plate 124 and with slot 142 in a bottom cover plate 143. Plate 143 is screwed to the bottom surface of plate 124.

Mounted on plate 124 by rivet 146 is a spring wire 147 having a curved end 143 biased into engagement with one of detents 149 and 150 in the surface of latch plate 135 on the side of the pivotal mounting by pin 133 opposite to the side of the latching engagement at the tapered end into hole 133 of pin 132. Slot 140 is shaped to receive the end of a screwdriver (not shown) for rotation of latch plate 135 to raise pin 132 out of engagement block 110. This rotation will force spring wire 147 out of engagement with detent 150. Spring wire 147 will engage detent 149 when the screwdriver has rotated latch plate 135 sufliciently to raise pin 132 out. of recess 111. To reengage pin 132 into recess 110, when recess 111 is in alignment with pin 132, latch plate 135 is rotated by the screwdriver in the reverse direction. This. disengages spring 'wire 147 from detent 149 and sufficient rotation of plate 135 results in reengagement of spring wire 147 into detent '150. Thus, detents 149 and 150 cooperate with spring wire 147 to maintain pin 132 in either of the two positions, that is, the engaging or disengaging position.

In the third embodiment of the invention as shown in Fig. 6, the swinging door 48 is'mounted in a door frame generally indicated at 152 having door jambs 153 and 154.

Between swinging door 48 and door jambs 153 and 154 are partitions or side lights generally indicated at 155 and 156, each containing a glass panel G and G respectively, and bottom channel members 157 and 158, respectively, and top channel members (not shown) that are similar in cross section to bottom and top channel members 41 and 40 (and 15 and 14). Partition 156 is pivotally mounted by a pin 160 to the floor F and by a similar pin (not shown) extending from the top frame member (not shown) of door frame 152. This pivotal mounting in this type of construction is preferred to a screw mounting to jamb 154 as it permits easier removal of swinging door 48.

As'seen in Figs. 3 and 5, filler channel strip 20 and channel member 21 are each provided with a weather stripping 162 engaging glass panels G.

In order'to install or remove swinging door 11 or 34, it is necessary that filler channel strip 20 be removed from door jamb 17. It is seen that filler channel" strip 20 is between the extensions 46 and 47 of top and bottom channel members 40 and 41 of swinging door 34, and extensions 42 and 43 of top and bottom channel members 14 and 15 of swinging door 11.

The hinge edge 44 or 45 of each panel G, such as the hinge edge 45 of glass panel G of swinging door 34, is convex. This is seen in doors 34 and 31 in Fig. 3 and door 11 in Fig. 5. In these figures, the convex surface of the hinge edge 44 or 45 is shown as circular with a radius of curvature substantially equal to the distance from the hinge edge 44 or 45 of the glass panel G to the hinge axis of the door. However the radius of curvature from the hinge axis or substantially from the hinge axis is requisite for the hinge edge of glass panel G only in its central vertical section. The outer vertical sections of the hinge edge of the glass panel G can have advantageously a greater radius of curvature. The hinge edges 163 and 164 of top and bottom channel members 14 and 15, respectively, for swinging doors 11, 31 and 48 as well as the hinge edges 165 and 166 for top and bottom channel members 49 and 41, respectively, of swinging doors 32, 33 and 34 have a considerably greater radius of curvature for the convex edge. It is substantially a radius of curvature equal to the distance of the hinge edge of these members to the hinge axis. As seen in Fig. 3, glass panel G of swinging door 34 at its leading edge 36 is provided with a radius of curvature substantially equal to the distance from the leading edge to the hinge axis. Because this leading edge extends beyond the leading edges 38 and 39 of the top and bottom members 40 and 41, which have a convex surface with a radius of curvature substantially equal to the distance of such edges from the hinge axis, it is seen that the radius of curvature of the leading edge 36 of glass panel G is greater than that of the leading edges 38 and 39 of each of the top and bottom members 40 and 41 in doors 32, 33 and 34. However, in the case of swinging doors 11, 31 and 48 where the leading edges 167 and 168 of top and bottom members 14 and 15, respectively, are in alignment with the leading edge 170 of glass panel G, the leading edges 167 and 168 of top and bottom members 14 and 15 have substantially the same radius of curvature as the radius of curvature of the leading edge 170 or" glass.

panel G.

In Fig. 4, the details for the pivotal mounting of swinging door 34 is shown and has been described above. The same type of pivotal mounting can be used for doors 11, 31, 32, 33 and 48.

Because of the small radius of curvature of the glass panel at the hinge edge and by the use of the opposing filler channel strip 26 or by the use of the leading edge of an opposed glass panel G of an adjacent door or by the use of glass partition 156, the spacing can be chosen so that there is insufficient space between the hinge edge of the glass panel and the adjacent member for insertion of fingers. This is the case whether the door is in the closed position or is partially open as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 5. It is also true when the swinging door is completely open. For example, by Way of illustration and not as a limitation, a swinging door of the present invention can be mounted with the hinge edge of the glass panel G only Vs inch from the opposing structure such as filler channel strip or another glass panel G or glass panel G of partition 156. A similar clearance of /8 inch is provided between top or bottom channel frame members and adjacent door jambs 17 or adjacent top and bottom channel members 40 and 41 or 158 and top member (not shown) of partition 156. The pivot axis is 1 /8 inch from the hinge edge of the top and bottom frame members 14, 15, 40 and 41 and only inch from the pivot axis to the hinge edge of glass panel G. Thus substantial swinging of doors 11, 31, 33, 34 and 48 will not move the glass panel G away from the opposing surface sufiicient for the insertion of fingers therebetween.

While the drawings in the foregoing description have described the preferred embodiments in which glass doors having top and bottom framing members are utilized, the invention is not limited thereto. For example, it can be utilized in floor-hinge type of swinging doors that are constructed of wood or steel or other material. In such cases, the top and bottom framing members can be made of the same material as the panel and the three members can be constructed from a single sheet of mate rial in which is provided suitable channels for mounting the top and bottom hinge mechanisms.

In the foregoing description, the bottom or floor hinge mechanism for mounting the swinging door on a checking mechanism is one of the forms described and claimed in my copending patent application, Serial No. 485,076, entitled Adjustable Hinge Mechanism and filed January 31, 1955 now Patent No. 2,781,542, granted Feb. 19, 1957. Of course, the other forms of hinge mechanism shown therein are suitable for the type of swinging door described above. Reference is made to said copending application for details of the modifications including a flat rather than an offset base plate in the door checking assembly and the method of assembly when a threshold is not in the doorway. The door of the present invention is not limited to the types of hinge mechanisms shown in my copending application, but they are mentioned merely for purpose of illustration. Even the type of hinge mounting shown in the present application requires a hinge axis sufficiently far from the door jamb so that doors heretofore available could not be mounted without providing a space between the hinge edge of the door in the open position and the jamb sufficiently large to insert fingers therebetween.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application that has been described above.

The foregoing description of preferred embodiments of the present invention has been presented merely for purpose of illustration and not by way of limitation. The invention is to be limited only by the claims which follow. i

I claim:

1. A floor-hinge type of swinging door for mounting in a door frame which comprises a central panel portion, top and bottom portions joined to the top and bottom ends of the central panel portion, and means mounted in the top and bottom portions for pivotally mounting the door about an axis extending through the central panel portion adjacent a convex vertical edge of the central panel portion, said top and bottom portions extending laterally beyond the vertical edge of the central panel portion adjacent the pivotal axis, said pivotal mounting means being partially in the lateral extensions of the top and bottom portions, said lateral extensions each having a convex vertical edge with a radius of our vature larger than the radius of curvature of the convex vertical edge of the central panel portion, and the axes of the radii of curvature of the convex edges of the lateral extensions and the central panel portion being substantially coincident with the pivotal axis of the door. 2. A floor-hinge type of swinging door for mounting 1n a door frame which comprises a panel, top and bottom framing members joined to the top and bottom ends of the panel, and means mounted in the top and bottom framing members for pivotally mounting the door about an axis extending through the panel adjacent a vertical edge of the panel, said top and bottom framing members extending laterally beyond the vertical edge of the panel adjacent the pivotal axis, said pivotal mounting means being partially in the lateral extensions of the top and bottom framing members, the ends of said extensions of said top and bottom framing members having convex vertical surfaces and said vertical edge of the panel having a convex surface with at least the central portion of the convex surface having a smaller '7 radius of curvature than the radius of curvature of the convex surface of the extension ends of each of thertop and bottom framing members; and the axes of the radii of curvature of the convex edges of the lateral extensions and the panel being substantially coincident with the pivotal axis of the door.

3. A floor-hinge type of swinging door for mounting in a door frame which comprises a panel, top and bottom framing members joined to the top and bottom ends of the panel, and means mounted inthe top and bottom framing members for pivotally mounting the door about an axis extending through the panel adjacent a vertical edge of the panel, the top and bottom framing members extending laterally beyond the vertical edge of the door adjacent the pivotal axis, said pivotal mounting means being partially in the lateral extensions ofthe top and bottom framingmembers, the ends of said extensions of said top and bottom framing members having convex vertical surfaces and said vertical edge of the panel having a convex surface with at least the central portion of the convex surface having a smaller radius of curvature than the radius of curvature of the convex surface of the extension ends of each of the top and bottom framing members, the axes of the radii of curvature of the convex edges of the lateral extensions and the panel being substantially coincident with the pivotal axis of the door, and said panel extending laterally beyond the other ends of the top and bottom framing members to provide a vertical panel edge as a leading edge of the swinging door farther from the pivotal axis than the leading edges of the top and bottom framing members.

4. A floor-hinge type of swinging door for mounting in a door frame which comprises a glass panel, a top channel member having a web portion adjacent the top edge of the glass panel and downwardly turned flanges bonded to the top margin of the glass panel and upwardly extending flanges connected to the Web, means connected to the top channel member and between the upwardly extending flanges for pivotally engaging the door to a door frame, a bottom channel member having a web and upwardly extending flanges bonded to a bottom margin of the glass panel and having downwardly extending flanges connected to the web, means for pivotally mounting the door to a floor about an axis extending through the glass panel adjacent a vertical edge of the panel, said mounting means being fastened to the bottom channel member between the' downwardly extending flanges, said top and bottom channel members extending laterally beyond the vertical edge of the glass panel adjacent the pivotal axis of the-door, saidpivotal mounting means in the bottom channel-member being partially in the lateral extension of thebottom' channel member, the ends 'of said extensions of said top and bottom channel members having convex vertical surfaces and said vertical edge of the glass panel having a convex vertical surface with at least central portion of the convex surface of the glass panel having a smaller radius of curvature than the radius of curvature of the convex surface of the extension ends of each of the top and bottom channel members, and the axes of the radii of curvature of the convex edges of the lateral extensions and the glass panel being substantially coincident with the pivotal axis of the door.

5. The swinging door of claim 4 wherein the glass panel extends laterally beyond the other ends of the top and bottom channel members to provide a leading vertical edge farther from the pivotal axis than the leadings edges of the top and bottom channel members.

6. A door construction of the swinging type which comprises a door frame having a pair of door jambs and a top door frame member, a glass swinging door having a glass panel, top and bottom framing members engaging the glass panel at the margins, and means mounted in the top and bottom framing members for pivotally mounting the door about an axis extending through the glasspanel adjacent a vertical edge of the panel, said top and bottom framing members extending laterally beyond the vertical edge of the panel adjacent the pivotal axis, said pivotal mounting means being partially in the lateral extensions of the top and bottom framing members, the ends of said extensions of said top and bottom framing members having convex vertical surfaces and said vertical edge of the panel having a convex vertical surface with at least the central portion of the convex surface having a smaller radius of curvature than the radius of curvature of the convex surface of the extension ends of each of the top and bottom framing members, the axes of the radii of curvature of the convex edges of the lateral extensions and the glass panel being substantially coincident with the pivotal axis of the door, and a member mounted to the door jamb between said extensions of said top and bottom framing members to provide a surface opposing the hinge edge of the glass panel and substantially closing the space between the door jamb and the glass panel, said channel member being removably mounted on said jamb.

7. The door construction of claim 6 wherein the pivotal means mounted in the bottom framing member includes a check arm partially in the lateral extension of the bottom framing member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,184,259 Seaman Dec. 19, 1939 2,317,931 Miller et a]. Apr. 27, 1943 2,667,244 West Jan. 26, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 2,866,236 December 30, 1958 George L West It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 1, line 27, for "filter" read filler column 8, li H for "leadings edges" read leading edges Signed and sealed this 23rd day of June 1959.

(SEAL) Attest:

KARL H. AXLINE ROBERT C. WATSON Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

